Meet Lavender

Lavender the Zebra is up on Etsy now. She's so adorable, and I don't think my photos do her justice. I don't know if I'm just not getting the right background or what.



















I made Lavender from my ever-growing stash of Knit Picks Shine Worsted yarn, so she is incredibly soft.

I recently visited a specialty yarn shop here in Mobile (Wellslee's All Strung Out), and for the most part was pleased with their selection. I bought two hanks of sock yarn (their sock yarn section is especially good), but I don't think they can replace Knit Picks as my top yarn supplier. They did have some pima cotton yarns, but they are twice as expensive as Shine Worsted, not nearly as soft, and they don't have as many color choices. More importantly, they don't have the colors that I order most from Knit Picks. I went to Wellslee's looking for a substitute for Shine Worsted Robot, a light gray color. They had plenty of gray yarns, but none of that light silvery shade. Looks like I'll be waiting until August 20 to place yet another order from Knit Picks.

Wellslee's does have a really great offering of knitting needles. They have circular and double-pointed needle sizes that I can't find in Hobby Lobby or Michael's and would usually have to order. Their prices on bamboo needles are also far more reasonable than the prices for those needles in Hobby Lobby (they actually cost about 50% less at Wellslee's). I will definitely be back to visit these folks, but I'm afraid they just can't replace Knit Picks.

Just Call Me Superwoman

I have been so super productive today. So far I've:

• baked a loaf of bread
• unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher
• washed, dried, folded and put away two loads of laundry
• cleaned both bathrooms
  
• looked over my defense presentation with three new slides added by my adviser
• set up the sweet new digital photo frame I got for my birthday
  
• entertained Max by playing Wii Sports (bowling and tennis) and letting him hold the remote I wasn't using
• knitted a zebra head, complete with ears and mane
• sewed the ears and mane to the zebra head, and embroidered the eyes and mouth
• made a pot of chili for dinner

That doesn't even include everyday tasks like changing, feeding, and generally keeping track of a two year old. And feeding myself. I mostly ate leftovers.

I am so excited about this new zebra. This one is special - it's lavender! It's turning out so sooo sooooo cute. I'm hoping that I can get it finished, photographed, and listed on Etsy by Wednesday. The few minor changes I made to my original zebra pattern made a world of difference (even though that first one was pretty adorable). I can't wait to show you.

Projects on the Horizon

If I ever find the time, I have tons of knitting projects I want to complete in the next couple of months. I bought myself a cardigan pattern and the yarn to make it with (Storm as the main color, Fog as the contrast) as a little birthday gift to myself. Hopefully, I'll be able to start working on it as soon as I get the yarn in the mail.

There are also four sock projects that I want to make, some for myself, others as Christmas/birthday gifts. First, I need to finish a bee for a customer. I have two more rounds to complete the body, then I need to make the wings, legs, arms, and antennae. It isn't as much work as it sounds. I can probably finish it in an hour or so, if I can find the time to sit down and do it. I didn't promise it until next weekend, but I'm actually hoping to finish it today so she can pick it up sooner.

I just sold another teddy bear on Etsy, which has seriously depleted my shop. So far on my Etsy shop to-do list are: a bear, an elephant, a zebra, a tiger, a bee, a ladybug. We'll see how long it takes me to get around to knitting all of those critters.

All in all, business is good right now, which is somewhat surprising, being August, a typically slow time of year for toy sales, I think. I'm not complaining. Now, off to change my toddler's wet pull-up and get him dressed for the day. I sort of love weekends when I wake up earlier than he does. I get so much done in that short time when everyone else is sleeping.

Creepy Crawly Caterpillar Pattern

Today I decided to make my caterpillar pattern publicly available - for free even! You can download the pdf on Ravelry or see instructions below. The finished caterpillar measures about 6.5 inches. You'll need about 75 yards of worsted weight yarn, a set of US size 3 DPN's, stuffing, a tapestry needle, and a scrap of contrast color yarn for embroidering facial features.

BODY
Cast on 6 sts, and distribute evenly among 3 needles. Join to knit in the round, and place marker
to mark the beginning of the round.
Round 1: knit all sts
Round 2: *k2 m1* 3x’s (9 sts)
Round 3: knit
Round 4: *k1 m1* 9x’s (18 sts)
Round 5: knit
Round 6: *k3 m1* 6x’s (24 sts)
Round 7: knit
Round 8: *k2 m1* 12x’s (36 sts)
Rounds 9-18: knit 10 rounds
Round 19: *k1 k2tog* 12x’s (24 sts)
Round 20: knit
Round 21: *k2 k2tog* 6x’s (18 sts)
Begin stuffing.
Round 22: knit
Round 23: *k3 m1* 6x’s (24 sts)
Round 24: knit
Round 25: *k2 m1* 12x’s (36 sts)
Rounds 26-35: knit 10 rounds
Round 36: *k1 k2tog* 12x’s (24 sts)
Round 37: knit
Round 38: *k2 k2tog* 6x’s (18 sts)
Round 39: knit
Add more stuffing.
Round 40: *k3 m1* 6x’s (24 sts)
Round 41: knit
Round 42: *k2 m1* 12x’s (36 sts)
Rounds 43-52: knit 10 rounds
Round 53: *k1 k2tog* 12x’s (24 sts)
Round 54: knit
Round 55: *k2 k2tog* 6x’s (18 sts)
Round 56: knit
Add more stuffing.
Round 57: *k1 k2tog* 6x’s (12 sts)
Round 58: k2tog 6x’s (6 sts)
Finish stuffing. Cut yarn, thread through remaining stitches, pull tight, and knot. Hide yarn tail
inside.

HEAD
Cast on 6 stitches, and distribute evenly among 3 needles. Join to knit in the round, and place
marker to mark the beginning of the round.
Round 1: knit all sts
Round 2: *k2 m1* 3x’s (9 sts)
Round 3: knit
Round 4: *k1 m1* 9x’s (18 sts)
Round 5: knit
Round 6: *k3 m1* 6x’s (24 sts)
Round 7: knit
Round 8: *k2 m1* 12x’s (36 sts)
Round 9: knit
Round 10: *k9 m1* 4x’s (40 sts)
Rounds 11-18: knit 8 rounds
Round 19: *k8 k2tog* 4x’s (36 sts)
Round 20: knit
Round 21: *k1 k2tog* 12x’s (24 sts)
Round 22: knit
Round 23: *k2 k2tog* 6x’s (18 sts)
Round 24: knit
Begin stuffing.
Round 25: *k1 k2tog* 6x’s (12 sts)
Round 26: k2tog 6x’s (6 sts)
Finish stuffing. Cut yarn, thread through remaining stitches, pull tight, and knot. Hide yarn tail
inside.

LEGS (make 6)
Cast on 6 sts, and distribute evenly among 3 needles. Join to knit in the round, and place marker
to mark the beginning of the round.
Round 1: knit
Round 2: *k2 kfb* twice (8 sts)
Rounds 3-6: knit 4 rounds
Bind off all stitches, and stuff the legs, using a pencil to help.

ANTENNAE (make 2)
Cast on 3 stitches, distribute between 2 needles.
Round 1: kfb 3x’s (6 sts)
Increase to 3 needles.
Rounds 2-5: knit 4 rounds
Stuff, using a pencil to help.
Round 6: k2tog 3x’s (3 sts)
Work 6 rows i-cord and bind off.

Sew all pieces together, and embroider facial features.

Busy Bee

Yep, that's me. I just put the finishing touches on my Power Point for my dissertation defense so I can go through it with my adviser tomorrow. I've been diligently working on my recent toy orders as well. I've finished one horse (black with green eyes, pretty cute) and have almost finished the head for the second. I'll post photos once they're both complete.

I got the yarn for the football and basketball in the mail yesterday, and hopefully I'll be able to finish the sports ball order by the end of the week.

After that, it's off to make another bumble bee, as I just got a request for another one.

In the midst of all this busy-ness I've almost forgotten that my birthday is Friday! No big plans, just dinner out with the family, which is fine with me.

Now, off to finish knitting a horse head!

Timmy the Tiger

Meet Timmy, my latest creation. He's a tiger, obviously. Isn't he cute?














Here, drink in the full view of Timmy.














Now, from the back. Isn't that a sweet little tail?














I have a feeling that if I ever get the time to make more of him, I'll sell a zillion. This one is already spoken for. Remember that potentially large Etsy order I mentioned in my last post? Well, Timmy is part of that order, along with a snail and an elephant. I'm also making two horses for the buyer. I'll be starting on those tonight.

I wrote up the baseball/basketball pattern for Max's daycare's receptionist last night, and I ordered the yarn for the football and basketball. I already have white for the baseball. The yarn shipped today, so I'll probably be able to make the balls next week.

Obviously, I have plenty of knitting to keep me busy for a while... in addition to preparing for my dissertation defense (it's only three weeks from today!). Ahhh, the end of graduate school... it sort of scares the crap out of me.

Custom Creations

Well, guys, I have to say that Market on the Square could have been more successful. It wasn't a complete disappointment, though. I did sell four toys and make $67 in the process. More importantly, I gave out tons of business cards, and there may be a large Etsy order on the horizon for me because of it. In addition to that, I just got an order from the receptionist at Max's daycare for a collection of plush sports balls. I am now on the hunt for the perfect football-colored yarn. And contemplating the feasibility of knitting a soccer ball. I may end up just doing a football, baseball, and basketball. Perhaps I'll throw in a hockey puck... because, as you may or may not know, hockey is the best sport there is.

I also got a request for two horses, but it isn't a firm request yet, just an inquiry at this point. Hopefully it will turn into an actual order.

In the meantime, I'm *thisclose* to finishing up a tiger, and I am super in love with it. I'll have to make more, I'm sure. Elephants and tigers are popular critters here in southern Alabama. Hopefully I'll get the tiger finished up tonight and photographed and listed on Etsy tomorrow. I just have to knit the tail then sew the legs and tail onto the body.